Fire alarm



P. L. SULLIVAN FIRE ALARM April 27, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April29, 1963 INVENTOR. PAUL L. SULLIVAN j Mix:

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,180,307 FIRE ALARM Paul L. Sullivan,527 Harrison Ave., Lancastenflhio Filed Apr. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 276,341

8 Claims. (Cl. 116--104) This invention relates to fire alarm apparatus.

In general, the apparatus comprises an upright frame means that supportsa bell and hammer mechanism arranged to produce a loud audiblesignalthat can be heard throughout a dwelling or other building.

As another aspect of the present invention the apparatus comprises adriving means for'intermittently actuating the hammer which drivingmeans uniquely utilizes the controlled action of a falling weight topositively effect the alarm.

As still another aspect of the present invention, the above mentionedhammer driving means is released in the event of a fire by a uniquetrigger mechanism that incorporates a plurality of trigger members eachof which is attached to a combustible string that is extended from i themechanism to a location in the building such that the tial energy of afalling weight. Hence, since no electrical apparatus is required, theapparatus will stiil function even though a fire causes failure of theelectrical system in the home.

It is another object of the present inve'ntionto provide an apparatus ofthe type described that incorporates a novel trigger release andassociated linkage which in the burning of any one of a plurality ofcombustible strings starts operation of a single alarm apparatus.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanydrawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention isclearly shown.

In the drawings: 7 FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a fire alarmapparatus constructed in accordance'with the present invention; 1

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial front elevational view of the apparatus ofFIG. 1;

towards bell 49 and further functions to constantly urge FIG. 3 is anenlarged partial side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial rear elevational view of the apparatus ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of a trigger mechanism comprising aportion of the apparatus of the preceding figures, the section beingtaken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2; and V FIG. 6 is a partial sectionalview showing a latch weld mechanism comprising a portion of theapparatus of the preceding figures, the section being taken along theline 6-6 of PEG. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a fire alarmapparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention thatincludes a frame means indicated generally at 20 that comprises spacedupright tubular frame members 22 and 24.

The upper end of the frame means carries bearing plates Basset? FatentedApr. 27, 1965 over sprocket 30 and a heavier weight 38 is attached toone lower end of the chain, said weight being "vertically movablymounted in tubular frame member 22.

A lighter weight 40 is attached to the lower end of chain 36.

When the apparatus is wound up to a stand-by position,

by lifting heavier weight 38 in tubular member 22, then lighter weight40 is dropped to aposition where it rests on a stop pin 42 and theexcess chain piles up above the weight as seen by the bends 44in FIG. 4.

. Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 3 a hammer member 46 is pivotallymounted to the frame at a pivot 48 and includes a follower portion 50cyclically driven by a'cam wheel 52, the latter being keyed to a shaft54.

A driven sprocket 56, FIGS. 3 and 6, is also keyed to shaft 54 and isconnected to the previously mentioned sprocket 32 by a chain 58.

As is best seen in FIG. 6, a latch wheel 60 is also keyed to shaft 54and normally restrained from rotation by a latch lever 64 pivotallymounted to the frame means at pivot 66, said lever including a latchportion 68 that engages one of the latch portions 70 on latch wheel 60as will be seen from FIG. 6.

With reference to FIG. 3a centrifugal type speed governor indicatedgenerally at 72 is driven, upon rotation of shaft 54 via sprockets 74and 76 and chain 73.

Governor 72 includes a plurality of radially movable friction shoes 80that engage the inner surface of a brake housing82 upon rotation ofgovernor-shaft 8 5. The faster shaft 84 tends to move the greater thefrictional engagement between brake shoes 80 and the inner brake surfaceon housing 82.

As is best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 the apparatusfurther includes atrigger mechanism indicated generally at 88 i that comprises a housing90 that contains a master lever 92 pivotted to the rear of the housingat a pivot 94. The right end of the master lever is connected to thelower end of a link 96 at a pivot 98, the upper end of the link beingconnected to latch lever 64 at a pivot 100.

A tension spring 102 constantly biases hammer 46 link 96 upwardlyandhence latch lever 64 into engage ment with latch wheel 60.

Such latching engagement between lever 64 and wheel 108 passes under arespective pulley 114, one of which is seen in FIG. 1, whereby thestrings pull directly downwardly on the trigger members 106.

In operation, the machine is prepared for standby by extending each ofthe strings 108 to a different location in the building, preferably atlocations where a fire is most likely to start. The end of each stringis anchored as its respective location such that its respective lever106 is maintained downwardly, as seen in FIG. 1, against the action ofsprings 112 whereby linkage spring 102 is free to urge link 96 upwardlywhereby latch lever 64 urges the latch portion 68 into engagement withlatch portion 70 on latch wheel 60.

Main sprocket 30 is next wound in a counter-clockwise direction, as isseen in FIG. 4, to lift heavier weight 38 to a topmost position intubular frame member 22 and when this occurs the lower end of chain 36piles up in the other tubular frame member 24 above lighter weight 40.

With this arrangement stop 42 and the accumulation of chain at 44 takepart of the chain weight away from the left side of the apparatus asviewed in FIG. 4 until heavier weight 33 has descended approximatelyhalf-way downwardly. This makes the force exerted on main sprocket wheel30 substantially constant whereby the period of oscillation of hammer 46is also substantially constant.

Descent of weight 38 is also maintained substantially constant by thepreviously described centrifugal speed governor 72.

When one of the combustible strings 108 is severed by burning one of thetension springs 112 lifts its respective trigger member 106 therebydisengaging latch portion 68-70 via lever 92, link 96, and latch lever64.

When latch portions 68-70 are released rotation of shaft 54 immediatelybegins whereby cam wheel 52 oscillates hammer member 46 in cyclicalengagement with bell 49. a

The apparatus continues to produce hammer blow action on the bell untilheavier weight 38 has reached the bottom of its path of travel intubular frame member 22.

I claim:

1. A fire alarm apparatus comprising, in combination frame means;sprocket means rotatably mounted on said frame means; a chain carried onsaid sprocket and including first and second free ends; a first weighton said first free end; a second weight on said second free end; a bellmounted on said frame means; a lever pivoted on said frame means andincluding a hammer portion for striking said bell; a cam wheel rotatablymounted on said frame for driving said lever; cam wheel driving meansconnecting said cam wheel with said sprocket means; a latch wheel keyedfor rotation with said cam wheel; a latch member releasably engagingasid latch wheel; a trigger member mounted to said frame means; linkagemeans connecting said latch member with said trigger member; and acombustible string attached to said trigger member whereby burning ofsaid string releases said trigger member.

2. A fire alarm apparatus comprising, in combination frame meansincluding two spaced upright tubular frame members; sprocket meansrotatably mounted on said frame means; a chain carried on said sprocketand including first and second free ends; a first weight on said firstfree end and vertically moveably disposed in one of said tubular framemembers; a second weight on said second free end and vertically moveablydisposed in the other of said tubular members; a bell mounted on saidframe means; a lever pivoted on said frame means and including a hammerportion for striking said bell; a cam wheel rotatably mounted on saidframe for driving said lever; cam wheel driving means connecting saidcam wheel with said sprocket means; a latch wheel keyed for rotationwith said cam wheel; a latch member releasably engaging said latchwheel; a trigger member mounted to said frame means; linkage meansconnecting said latch member with said trigger member; and a combustiblestring attached to said trigger member whereby burning of said stringreleases said trigger member.

3. A fire alarm apparatus comprising, in combination frame means;sprocket means rotatably mounted on said frame means; a chain carried onsaid sprocket and including first and second free ends; a first weighton said first lower end; a second weight on said second free end, saidsecond weight being heavier than said first weight; stop means on saidframe for restricting the downward movement of said first lighter weightand for assisting the downward movement of said second heavier weight; a

bell mounted on said frame means; a lever pivoted on said frame meansand including a hammer portion for striking said bell; a cam wheelrotatably mounted on said frame for driving said lever; cam wheeldriving means connecting said cam wheel with said sprocket means; alatch wheel keyed for rotation with said cam wheel; a latch memberreleasably engaging said latch wheel; a trigger member mounted to saidframe means; linkage means connecting said latch member with saidtrigger member; and a combustible string attached to said trigger memberwhereby burning of said string releases said trigger member.

4. A fire alarm apparatus comprising, in combination frame meansincluding two spaced upright tubular frame members; sprocket meansrotatably mounted on said frame means; a chain carried on said sprocketand including first and second free ends; a first weight on said firstfree end and vertically moveably disposed in one of said tubular framemembers; a second weight on said second free end and vertically moveablydisposed in the other of said tubular members, said second weight beingheavier than said first weight; stop means on said frame for restrictingthe downward movement of said first lighter weight and for assisting thedownward movement of said second heavier weight; a bell mounted on saidframe means; a lever pivoted on said frame means and including a hammerportion for striking said bell; a cam wheel rotatably mounted on saidframe for driving said lever; cam wheel driving means connecting saidcam wheel with said sprocket means; a latch wheel keyed for rotationwith said cam wheel; a latch member releasably engaging said latchwheel; a trigger member mounted to said frame means; linkage meansconnecting said latch member with said trigger member; and a combustiblestring attached to said trigger member whereby burning of said stringreleases said trigger member.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 that includes governor means for thespeed of rotation of said cam wheel.

6. A fire alarm apparatus comprising, in combination frame meansincluding two spaced upright tubular frame members; sprocket meansrotatably mounted on said frame means; a chain carried on said sprocketand including first and second free ends; a first weight on said firstfree end and vertically moveably disposed in one of said tubular framemembers; a second weight on said second free end and vertically moveablydisposed in the other of said tubular members; bell and hammer means forsounding an alarm; and driving means connecting said hammer means withsaid sprocket means.

7. A fire alarm apparatus comprising, in combination frame means;sprocket means rotatably mounted on said frame means; a chain carried onsaid sprocket and including first and second free ends; a first weighton said first lower end; a second weight on said second free end, saidsecond weight being heavier than said first weight; stop means on saidframe for restricting the downward movement of said first lighter weightand for assisting the downward movement of said second heavier weight;bell and hammer means for sounding'an alarm; and driving meansconnecting said hammer means with said sprocket means.

8. A fire alarm apparatus comprising, in combination frame meansincluding two spaced upright tubular frame members; sprocket meansrotatably mounted on said frame means; a chain carried on said sprocketand including first and second free ends; a first weight on said firstfree end and vertically moveably disposed in one of said tubular framemembers; a second weight on said second free end and vertically moveablydisposed in the other of said tubular members, said second weight beingheavier than said first weight; stop means on said frame for restrictingthe downward movement of said first lighter weight and for assisting thedownward movement of said second heavier weight; a bell mounted on saidframe means; a lever pivoted on said frame means and including a hammerportion for striking said bell; acam'wheel ro- References Cited in thefile of this patent tatably mounted on said frametor driving saidlever;UNITED STATES PATENTS cam wheel dr1v1ng means connectmg sa1d cam wheelwith a said sprocket means; a latch wheel keyed for rotation 5001329 a"""5 June 1893 with said cam wheel; a latch member releasably engag- 5623747 2 1899 ing said latch wheel; a trigger member mounted to said757,490 Nlckels P frame means; linkage means connecting said latch mem-962,625 Couture June 1910 her with said trigger member; and acombustible string at- 1,895,957 Bowen June 1933 tached to said triggermember whereby burning of said 2,457,072 Smith 21, 1948 string releasessaid trigger member. 10 2,569,062 Kjeldergaard Sept. 25, 1951

1. A FIRE ALARM APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION FRAME MEANS;SPROCKET MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME MEANS; A CHAIN CARRIED ONSAID SPROCKET AND INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND FREE ENDS; A FIRST WEIGHTON SAID FIRST FREE END; A SECOND FREE WEIGHT ON SAID SECOND FREE END; ABELL MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME MEANS; A LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID FRAME MEANSAND INCLUDING A HAMMER PORTION FOR STRIKING SAID BELL; A CAM WHEELROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR DRIVING SAID LEVER; CAM WHEELDRIVING MEANS CONNECTING SAID CAM WHEEL WITH SAID SPROCKET MEANS; ALATCH WHEEL KEYED OF ROTATION WITH SAID CAM WHEEL; A LATCH MEMBERRELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID LATCH WHEEL; A TRIGGER MEMBER MOUNTED TO SAIDFRAME MEANS; LINKAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID LATCH MEMBER WITH SAIDTRIGGER MEMBER; AND A COMBUSTIBLE STRING ATTACHED TO SAID TRIGGER MEMBERWHEREBY BURNING OF SAID STRING RELEASES SAID TRIGGER MEMBER.